Sitting amidst small and big artworks in her office, 27-year-old Farah is looking forward to a long — ‘at least for 25 years’ — innings in the field.
shraddha_js@dnaindia.netThe white space of the new gallery — in the heart of Mumbai’s art district in Colaba — is squeaky clean and, when we walk in for a
dekko and a chat with art curator turned gallery owner Farah Siddiqui, workers are giving it the finishing touches. Sitting amidst small and big artworks in her office, 27-year-old Farah is looking forward to a long — ‘at least for 25 years’ — innings in the field.
Indian art is booming and how, but why one more art gallery? Farah — who has worked with artists and galleries in India and abroad as a consultant — smiles and replies, “I feel there will still be more galleries. There is enough space for good work. In fact, art lovers will find it exciting that in a small radius of area, there are so many options to see and appreciate. This is the trend in New York and Paris where art districts are clustered with galleries showing exciting work – of old and new talents.”
Ask her how her gallery Farah Siddiqui Contemporary Art (FSCA) plans to set itself apart in the field and she points out, “I would like to zoom in young artists early on in their career. I am trying to do art which may not be commercial in nature, showcase edgy, contemporary and trendy stuff,” says Farah, who is friends with many cutting-edge talents of today. “I have worked with artists like Sudarshan Shetty, Riyaz Komu and Hema Upadhyaya, in India and abroad. I may not always show art in the conventional sense – Dr Lucian Harris will be showing rare works at the gallery. I want to show new media work, installations.
She is careful to emphasise that though she will be showcasing talent from the Indian subcontinent “religion is a non issue. I am not going to be showing only Pakistani art. Artistic work does not have to be regional or communal.” On the credibility factor, she admits that, “It comes with time. But, here the buyer must take care when you are putting in so much money for an artwork. If the buyer is sound, he knows whom to approach, what he wants.”
The girl whose interest in art was kindled when she was a kid has now plunged into the art scenario with a vengeance. On show in the first exhibition which is on till November 15 are artists like Chitra Ganesh, Sajjad Ahmed and Mehreen Murtaza. “I used to work with other galleries. Now I will be doing my own thing. That is so much more exciting,” Farah ends.
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